Out & About: What's happening in the great outdoors

Pete Di Pol of Titusville landed this monster in the Haulover Canal. It measured almost 47 inches. If you have a catch and would like to see it in the paper, send it to mparsons@floridatoday.com with your name, where you caught it and how big it was.

Miami Boat Show starts Thursday at three sites

Take your walking shoes to the Miami International Boat Show, one of the largest in the world that opens Thursday and continues through Feb. 17 at three sites.

The main show, jammed with hundreds of indoor displays, will be at the Miami Beach Convention Center at 1901 Convention Center Drive. The Strictly Sail Miami will be at Miamarina at Bayside at 400 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. A new Yacht and Power Boat Show, requiring no admission, will be at Sea Isle Marina at 1635 N. Bayshore Dr. in Miami.

Tickets range from $35 for two days to $20 for one day. Children 15 and under are free.

For more, log on to: www.miamiboatshow.com.

Bill protecting hunters' rights passes in House

A bill that promotes and protects hunters' rights passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

The Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, H.R. 3590, passed by a 268-154 House vote. Bob Latta (R-OH) was a stalwart behind the bill and he was praised for his work by the National Rifle Association.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where the NRA will urge its passage.

The Act would give law-abiding gun owners more access to carry firearms on Army Corps of Engineers land, would protect lead-based ammunition, and promote the construction and maintenance of public target ranges.

Father-and-son teams win Strike Zone opener

A full field of 32 boats turned out for the Strike Zone Bass Trail season-opening tournament on Feb. 1 at Lake Blue Cypress.

Father-and-son teams claimed the top two places in what proved to be a tough day for bass fishing.

Tom Evans and his son, Bruce Evans, weighed in four bass totaling 14.9 pounds to take the $640 first prize plus an additional $550 in a Calcutta.

Second went to Jim Shekell and Austin Shekell with two fish weighing 14.2 pounds. They won $384.

The highlight was an 11.3-pound heavyweight, the only bass caught by the Bragman-Haven team, that earned third place and the big bass pot totaling $576. Their first names were not available.

The next of four tournaments will be March 1 at Lake Cypress on the Kissimmee Chain.

Jim Folks, the tournament director, said all slots are filled for the season.

Mud Hole's new catalog filled with do-it-yourself

If you're into do-it-yourself rod building, fly tying or other tackle projects, get a copy of Mud Hole's 2014 custom tackle catalog.

The 244 pages are loaded with top fishing products and tips for all brands of fishing. The catalog is free.

Tom McNamara, a spokesman for Mud Hole, the industry's largest e-retailer and mail-order company and headquartered at Oviedo here in Central Florida, said the catalog includes rod-building kits and rod blanks from Lamiglas, Sage, TFO, MHX, St. Croix and other manufacturers for spinning, fly, surf, offshore, jigging, you name it.

"There are 10 pages devoted to fly tying and 20 pages on lure-building products," McNamara said, adding that rod building is at an all-time high.

"With each rod-building kit, we include a free DVD titled Rod Building 101, featuring professional rod builders Scott Gimbert and J.L. Leffler."

For a copy, visit www.mudhole.com, or call 866-790-7637.

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